How to Record Skype and Google Hangout Video Calls

At TechSmith, we’re always looking for ways to improve our video content for our viewers. One great way to do that is to include customers or subject matter experts in our videos. The only problem? Time, distance, and budget constraints make it nearly impossible to visit everyone in person. Although with technology like Skype and Google Hangouts, we don’t have to. Instead of traveling on site, we can capture interviews in video calls then bring those recordings into the videos we create.

Recording Skype, Google Hangouts, or any digital video communication can be a useful way to interview subject matter experts and customers. The footage you record can be used in a variety of ways: marketing videos, internal presentations, market research, etc. Using quotes from experts in customer-facing videos has worked well for us here. (We’ll talk a bit more about permissions for this type of video at the end of the post.)

How to record Skype and Google Hangouts

There are a lot of great options for recording your Skype calls and Google Hangouts. Snagit makes it easy to quickly record your screen. (Even if you don’t have a copy of Snagit, you can download Snagit free for 15 days.)

When you record a video call, you can choose whether or not to capture audio, screen activity, or even PowerPoint slides. After you stop recording, you can save it on your computer or share it with anyone who needs the information.

Get the full tutorials:

Before You Record Your Video Call

Prepare your machine

Before you hit record, there are a few simple steps you should take. First, be mindful that it takes a lot of computer processing power to record video and run programs like Google Hangouts and Skype at the same time. To get the best results, turn off any unneeded application. Don’t just minimize them, really turn them off. It will help with overall performance of your machine.

Next, you’ll need to make sure all notifications are turned off. I’ve seen it happen, I’ve had it happen, and even heard it happen to folks on national radio broadcasts. You don’t want a notice about your next appointment, or an incoming email ruining a perfectly good video. Besides ruining your video, it feels amateurish when it happens. And you, my friends, are better than that.

If you don’t have access natural light, you might need to supplement with more light. When you add extra lights, make sure the light is directly in front of you, so you don’t accidentally cast shadows across your face (unless you’re going for the shadowy mysterious look!). You don’t have to do anything too fancy, so long as you can be seen clearly.

You’ll also want to adjust the placement of your camera. We recommend using the rule of thirds.

This is Trent Thompson, who we interviewed for a customer story. Notice how he’s evenly lit and where he’s placed in the frame? You can also see there’s not much action going on in the background. This is ideal—backdrops shouldn’t distract from the key visual content!

Limit background noise

Finally, it’s time to consider the noise in your recording environment. There’s always going to be ambient noise, but you should try to eliminate it as much as possible. The typical culprits are HVAC systems, fluorescent light buzz, office chatter, road noise, etc. If you are in an office, close your door, put up a “Shhh! I’m recording” sign, and send out a gentle email reminder to your coworkers.

Technical and hardware considerations

Audio settings

Although you won’t have complete control over it, you’ll want your guest’s audio to be as good as it can be. Consider recommending a microphone for them to use because the microphone built into their laptop won’t deliver very good audio.

Built-in mics work well for having a conversation, but they’ll disappoint in a recording. If your subject has an external webcam, it may have a microphone built into it that will provide good enough audio. Otherwise, it might be worth it to provide your guest with a USB desktop microphone or a headset. Although if your guest is wearing a headset, it can look a little awkward.

A good microphone doesn’t have to cost thousands or even hundreds of dollars. We recommend the Blue Yeti (about $100) and the Audio Technica 2020 (about $200). Both go on sale occasionally.

Oftentimes we do interviews that are one-sided, meaning we’re most interested in the guest’s comments and not necessarily our own. You don’t have to worry about your own audio quality unless you’re planning on using it in a final video.

Alternatively, you could use an app like Zencastr to record your guest’s audio straight off their own computer. Zencastr saves separate audio tracks for each guest in a Skype session or Hangout directly into your Dropbox account.

Before we move on, let’s talk about the most important step of all: making sure your system audio gets recorded. If you forget this, your recordings won’t capture any of the audio off your computer (i.e., where your interviewee is speaking!).

Always make sure your mic gets picked up before you start recording:

Video settings

Much like built-in mics, built-in cameras on laptops aren’t the greatest (one exception: Apple computers tend to be pretty good). To get around this problem, give your guest with a webcam that will provide a higher quality video stream. We like the Microsoft Life Camera that can record 1280×720. By no means is it perfect, but it does the job better than a standard laptop web camera.

The truth is video calls aren’t always high quality. They get impacted by a lot of different factors including how smooth and fast your system is running, your internet connection, and as mentioned before, your camera quality. Will your video be perfect quality? Probably not. But by doing a few simple steps, it can look pretty darn good. Even with a bit of pixelation or lag, your video can still look professional.

A Note about permissions

Before recording your subject(s), be sure to ask permission. In the US there are varying laws regarding recording conversations, so be mindful of what your local government has established. You may want to consider asking your interviewees to sign a release form as well, depending on how you’ll be using their footage. TechSmith uses a simple form similar to this one every time we record someone.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2014 and has since been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Matt – great article. Let me know if I’m following correctly – you are using Camtasia to record the screen image of the Skype or Google call, right? I just learned that Vodburner stopped working for Skype on a Mac, so I’m looking for a new solution.
Thanks

piercemr

Hi Brighton, You are correct. Camtasia will record the screen of the Skype or Google call. Things to watch out for are lag (i.e. audio and voice not keeping sync’d). Making sure Skype and Camtasia are the only things running helps a lot.

Give a go. I’d love to hear about your experience and how everything works for you.

Brighton West

I actually just purchased Ecamm’s Call recorder. Camtasia has more flexibility (using Google Hangouts for instance) but I liked Ecamm’s integration with Skype. Thanks again for sharing!

kilerb

Cool article! I was wondering if this would work for me… I’d like to record myself on the webcam for my little show. Then, make a call on skype, continue recording video of myself and the skype caller… Then once we hang up, i’m back to recording just me. Is this possible? I’ve been researching the past couple days and a lot of these skype recorders only record convos. Not just my end without a call going on. Do you know if this would work or if there are other solutions out there that might fit my needs? Thanks!!!

Bruce

Actually, your image of Mari Smith is an example of how NOT to use the rule of thirds. Using the rule of thirds, her face should be at one of the interior line intersections, not roughly centered. A focal point (line intersection) of her photo is a bit of her hair. LOL.
The Wikipedia page you link shows a GOOD example “before” and “after” composition using the rule of thirds for a desert scene.

Izobella Mars

I’ve tried recording my video calls with Skype using Camtasia and a headset, but there is never any sound recorded, just the video, even though Camtasia is set to record sound. Any idea what I could be doing wrong?

piercemr

Hi Izobella, I’m surprised it didn’t work – the headset shouldn’t make a difference, as long as the Record System audio option is checked. That being said, stranger things have happened. If you record other things, say a video playing back, does Camtasia record they system audio? If it does, there is probably some type of conflict happening with Skype. If it doesn’t work, double check your settings and try again. Worst case scenario, TechSmith offers awesome technical support (for free!): reach out to http://support.techsmith.com.

I’m going to be running my first recorded live video call & streamed event and I’m not sure whether to use Skype or Google Hangout…. Also, do I need to have Camtasia to record the call/event or is there a way to record inside of Skype or Google? Thanks! Great article.

Ericka S. Williams

thank you thank you.

Dollen

Camtasia for both Mac and PC has started crashing with this method. I think it’s because Camtasia’s system audio recorder either uses or actually is SoundFlower and it conflicts with Google Chat/Call Plug-in. Nothing is more annoying than having your recording drop in the middle of a podcast. Anyone else having this issue?

Kathryn

You actually do not need any screen recording software to record a Google Hangouts session. If you are on your Google+ homepage click the “Home” in the top left corner of the page for a drop-down menu then select “Hangouts”. Once you’re there you’ll need to click on the “Hangouts On Air”. Here is a video link to a video on YouTube that does a walk through: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYPOrfqfq5c

Sanam Singh

Additionally, you may try a R-HUB web conferencing server. It records bothy screen and voice.

Alex

I have used Camtasia 2 for my MacBook Pro to record Skype audio calls with the mentioned configuration but never recorded anything! It is ok when using Camtasia to record youtube or webinars.

Kimberly

I did a hangout and saved it to YouTube and now it is gone…..Any advice on how to find it?

Joe

Hi, I think my gf is cheating on me, she gave me her skype ID and password and i see she is talking to someone now i want to record her voice messages or video messages but all i wanted to know is that when i open her skype from my laptop i cant receive her calls, is there any possibility to find out or to listen her chat if she is on skype with somone else

Today’s post was written by Josh Cavalier, the CEO of Lodestone. For over 20 years, Lodestone has provided organizations education technology services including: public and private classes, video production,

Our Products

Change the way you work

TechSmith's suite of screen recording and video editing tools lets you make great content and collaborate with anyone. Communicate clearly, show what you know, and easily access your content wherever you are.